Published to YouTube The Alena31 on February 13, 2011.
I was listening to this song last week — watching this video, actually — and it brought to mind Jack and Georgiana’s story. I think you’ll recognize why this story came to mind when you read the chapter I am sharing below. 🙂
Enticing Miss Darcy, Chapter 3
“I am expected?” Jack asked with a surreptitious glance toward Georgiana.
“Not so much expected as hoped for,” Lady Margaret said with a smile. “Now, come sit here, my boy.” She motioned to a chair that was between her and her granddaughter.
“We are always pleased to have you call, Mr. Ralston,” Elizabeth said as she rose to pour the tea.
Jack did not miss the relieved look that passed between Georgiana and Mrs. Darcy. Perhaps not everyone was hoping to see him as much as Lady Margaret implied.
“I am always delighted to be accepted into your drawing room,” he replied. “It is the expected thing for a gentleman to call upon a lady after a soiree, is it not? They have not changed the rules of propriety and politeness on me since last season, have they?”
Lady Margaret chuckled. “They have not.”
“It is lovely of you to have called,” Georgiana added. “Did you enjoy the ball last evening?”
Jack inclined his head indicating that he had enjoyed himself. Calls, even when made at the home of someone whom you knew, were not particularly enjoyable. The conversation was always so stilted – for propriety’s sake and all that nonsense.
“It was a very enjoyable evening, although I did leave with emptier pockets than when I arrived.” His lips quirked up into a half-smirk. “Not that I minded so much. I had every intention of leaving my money with Mrs. Pratt.”
“Did you let her win?”
Jack enjoyed how Georgiana’s eyes danced with delight as her brows rose and a smile graced her lips. He shook his head and affected a somber expression. “She would not allow that. Mrs. Pratt is no fool.”
Georgiana shook her head. “I am not certain I believe you.”
Jack shrugged. “I might have paid less attention to my cards than I should have, but your cousin is very entertaining, which makes it a struggle.”
“You did not wish to win.” Georgiana’s lips pursed as she attempted to hold back a grin.
“No, I did not.”
“You spoil her.” Lady Margaret shook her head and peered over her glasses at Jack. “As does that husband of hers,” she added with a wink.
“It is so delightful to watch Mrs. Pratt’s enjoyment,” Jack explained. “Might I inquire as to what you are making?” There were rows and rows of neat yellow stitches spread across Lady Margaret’s lap.
“I have a great-grandchild arriving soon, and he or she will need something to keep him warm.”
“It is a blanket, then?”
“It is indeed.”
Conversation lapsed into silence for a moment. This was the part of calling that drove Jack mad. It was worse than sitting for a quarter of an hour without moving. There was no purpose to the silence, and Jack did not care for doing things that served no purpose. He was also aware that he was wasting precious time, for, at any moment, they could be joined by some other swain who wished to steal Georgiana away from him. And yet, he could not think of a thing to say – he, Jack Ralston, who was not generally at a loss for words – ever – had not a thing to say.
“The weather is better today than yesterday,” he finally said. It was not the most sparkling bit of conversation, but it did fill the silence. “The park will likely be crowded later.”
“Are you going driving or riding?” Lady Margaret asked.
“I hadn’t thought to do either. I just imagined that the fine weather would bring out one and all. One must not miss an opportunity to display one’s self if one is fond of such things.”
“And is one fond of such things?” Georgiana asked with a giggle.
“Not particularly. I enjoy watching others parade about, and I am not opposed to the conversations that often occur when so many are out, but I have no particular desire to be seen by one and all – not that I dread it, either. And you, Miss Darcy, is it something of which you are fond?” He knew the answer, but he wished to hear her say it both because he liked listening to her and because he dreaded the silence that might once again descend upon them.
“No, I do not like being on display.”
“However, it is something which is hard to avoid during the season,” Elizabeth added.
Again, Jack noticed the silent communication that passed between the two ladies. Women were so good at that — conversing without saying a word. If he were to guess the meaning of the two looks he had seen so far today, he would have to guess that Georgiana was neither eager to see him nor was she all that comfortable with her position of sought-after debutante.
“It is indeed,” he agreed. “We could have the knocker removed. You would get far fewer callers if it was not in place. But alas, it was not removed soon enough to avoid my intrusion.” He smiled at her as he said it.
“You are not an intrusion!” Georgiana exclaimed.
“But he is,” Jack muttered as the door opened and another gentleman, a Mr. Allerton, was announced. He watched as Georgiana’s posture straightened as she greeted him. She was clearly not at ease with her position of sought-after debutante.
“Allerton,” Jack said with a nod of his head. “You may have my chair.”
“You are leaving?” Georgiana asked in surprise.
“I do not wish to overstay my welcome, and I promised Mrs. Pratt I would take tea with her.”
Georgiana smiled. “You are very good to her.”
“Thank you,” Jack said with a grin. “I find it best to stay on the good side of one who can wield a foil as skillfully as your cousin.”
It was more than that, of course, and from the rise of Georgiana’s brow, he suspected she knew it. However, he hoped she would not press the matter further. Allerton did not need to know about how Mrs. Pratt had become something of a sister to him. Allerton was a fine enough fellow, but he was known to embellish tales at times. Jack had no desire to have it spread about the ton that he was infatuated with his friend’s wife – he wasn’t, but it was likely what would become of the tale once Allerton had put a polish on it.
Mr. Allerton was settling into the chair Jack had vacated as the drawing room door closed. Georgiana was smiling at him just as she smiled at everyone. Jack gathered his hat and coat from Mr. Kinney and exited Darcy House with his brain all in a muddle. She had not been eager to see him. She had smiled at both him and Allerton with very little difference between the two smiles. However, there had been a sadness in her eyes when he had told her he was leaving.
He turned and looked at Darcy House’s closed door before climbing into his carriage. A year! It would be a year next month, and he had made little, if any, progress in securing Georgiana Darcy’s interest, let alone her heart. He entered his carriage just as another was drawing to a stop behind his to deliver, no doubt, another caller for Miss Darcy. He shook his head as he settled into his seat and the door was closed. This would not do. He had never struggled to make an impression on a lady before this. His most significant difficulty had always been keeping the ladies from becoming too attached to him.
He had money, he was handsome with a certain prowess about him, and he was charming. There was, in his mind, very little to keep a lady from admiring him, save for an attachment to another. But — Georgiana had no suitor. If she did, Anne would have certainly told him. There must be some other reason for her rejection of his attentions.
“You are a friend,” Anne said later when Jack had aired his consternation with her. “Georgiana does not see you as others do. Did I not already canvas this when we discussed my plan?” She picked up her cup of tea and took a sip before discarding it in favour of a sandwich. “I swear I have never been so hungry so often in my entire life.”
“I, on the other hand, have always been this hungry this often for my entire life.”
Anne giggled, and Jack sighed.
“I see the point of your plan more clearly now. I cannot continue as I have been. I must either change my tactics or give her up completely.” He took a slow sip of his tea as he considered giving Georgiana Darcy up in favour of someone who readily fell for his charm. The thought settled in like a crushing weight.
“You must do as I say. Make her miss you.” Anne gave him a stern look. “I will have you for a cousin.”
“That is not for us to determine.” Moroseness, an unusual state of mind for Jack, wrapped itself around him like a scratchy barn blanket which one only used when the air was too cold to refuse it. He placed his still half-filled cup on the table. “I shall not call on her again.”
“Not at all?” Anne’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Not at all.”
“Will you not take her for a drive?”
He shrugged and shook his head. “I may dance with her, but never the first dance and never more than one.” It stung just to say such things, but he knew he must make a marked change in his behaviour. “I will still play the part of a friend.” How he was growing to hate that word! He drew a breath and blew it out slowly. “And if she falls for another, I will wish her happy and be on my way.”
“You cannot mean it!”
He shook his head. “You must believe me when I say I do not want to mean it, but I will not force myself upon a lady who is determined to refuse me. I could not bear to see her unhappy.”
Anne’s mouth hung open.
“It is your plan,” he added. “I will play the part of a friend but appear to be looking elsewhere for a Mrs. Ralston.”
Anne snapped her mouth closed. “You are taking the plan too far! I had intended for you to tease and taunt not desert her.”
Again, Jack drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “I am not deserting her. I am allowing her to choose.”
Anne’s left eyebrow rose as she scowled at him.
“It is how I wish to parry.”
Anne shook her head. “One does not win a match by dropping his sword.” She rolled her eyes and huffed. “Very well. I suppose you will not be moved on this?”
“I am resolved.” The left side of his mouth tipped upward in a half-smile. “I shall not distance myself so far that she will forget me. I said I would still play the part of charming, devil-may-care friend. It is your plan,” he repeated.
“It is not,” Anne refuted.
“Yes, I believe it is. Did you not tell me to stop calling on her, stop dancing with her, and seek another?”
“I said eventually – as in a gradual withdrawal of affections, not an abrupt reversal.”
“Would you care for another sandwich?” Jack moved the plate towards her.
“That is it? You will discuss this no further?”
“There is nothing left to discuss.” Anne could argue her points over and over again, and he could refute them just as many times. Nothing would change. He had played the part of smitten swain for nearly a year and made not an inch of progress. He would not continue down a losing path.
Anne selected a sandwich from the plate, and Jack did the same.
“You will, of course, warn me if your cousin has lost her heart to another, so that I might be prepared for any announcement?” He would need time to find somewhere to be, so that his mourning could be done in private, for he knew that even to hear of her being given to another would crush his heart and to have to witness it without time to harden himself to it would be unbearable.
“I should not,” Anne grumbled, “but I will.”
Oh, I am enjoying revisiting these stories on Mondays! 🙂
Do you see why today’s song choice would remind me of this story? Poor Jack is in the “friend zone.” But don’t worry. This is a romance with an happily ever after, so you know he eventually changes from friend to more in Georgiana’s story. However, you’ll have to read the story to find out how that happens.
Enticing Miss Darcy is the third in a trilogy of A Dash of Darcy and Companions stories. It can be purchased on its own or as part of Cottage Collection 2. This collection and all the titles in it will soon be leaving all vendors except for Amazon so they can spend 90-days in Kindle Unlimited.
This collection is also part of a 40% off Kobo Promotion from January 22-27, 2020. This promotion will require a promo code which I do not have yet but will later this week. The promo code is usually listed on Kobo’s site once the sale begins.
What fun to revisit Georgiana’s story. It was so much fun. There were so many wonderful characters. I may have to read the series again one of these days. Thanks for sharing beautiful music and a delightful revisit excerpt.
I keep saying that about a lot of books lately — “I need to reread this sometime” LOL Happy to hear you enjoyed the music and the excerpt.
Thanks for reminding me of this story. Now I will go and read it!
You’re welcome! That sounds like a great Monday activity 🙂